Loading machine



Sept. 20, v1932. F. w. VoDoz 1,878

LOADING MACHINE Filed April 8, 1929` 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 20, 1932. F. w. voDoz v 1,878,037

LOADING MACHINE Filed April s, 1929 2 sheets-sheet 2 Patented sept. 2o, 1932 i rannnarcii W. voDoz, or'wrLivrErrtrE, ILLINOIS, AssIGNon'ro GOODMAN MANUFAC- TURNG COMPANY, OF

Y' LOADING A ppnatitn' med Atrus,

This invention relates to imp'rovementsin loading machines and more-'particularly to loading machines such vas are used .in mines and are adapted to be fed-into the loosematerial to deposit it upon a travelling conveyor stood with" reference to the accompanymg for discharge into cars orthe like.M

One of the'principal objects ofmy invenvtion is to provide an improved mechanism which agitates the loose material 4so that said loose material may be gathered or deposited upon a travelling conveyor as v.the loading machine is fed. into said loose material. This agitating mechanismk comprises a plurality of fingers on the forward portion of the loading machine, reciprocably .movable transversely of said loadingmachine.`

Other objects of my inventionwillfappear from time to time as this-specification proceeds. Y

My invention may be more clearly under- Vdrawings wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view Iof Vthe device embodying my invention with parts broken awayand in section to more clearly show; the details of my invention; Y

' Figure 2 is a sideelevation. of the device shown in Figure 1 with parts broken away and in section;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the device shown in Figure -l with parts broken away and in section to more clearly show the details of .my invention;

Figure 4 is an enlarged 'fragmentary side elevation of the device shown in Figure 1 with parts broken awayand in section. to more clearly show the details of my inventiongand l Figure v5 is a sectional view taken on line 5--5 of Figure 3.V Y i Like numerals refer'toililreparts out the various figures. 2

Referring now to the details shown in the drawings, the device embodying myinvention comprises a Vconveyor apparatus; which may be of any suitable construction so vas Vto include a belt conveyor 10. In the form shown the apparatus includes a main. frame 11 having continuous tread traction devices 12, 12. for moving the apparatusover the mine floor. The conveyor is suitably mountieaa serial Nq. 353,286.

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS MAcHiNE i ed,on the main frame 11 `by-aplurality of pivotal connections at the lforward and rear- @ward ends thereof `which permitsv thereonveyor to be tilted longitudinally ofthe machine.

- A separate motor .14 is providedl for driving each continuousltread traction device 12. The motors 14 are mounted on the main frame l1 and havedriving' connection withY the continuous tread .traction devices 12 through a :suitable gear trainof an ordinarytypeA which will herein be described for one' motor 14 only sincethe driving rconnection from each motor f l2 is substantiallythe same.

A worm 15 is mounted cna motor shaft 16 and drives a worm gear. 17 on a. transverse shaft 18. 'A spur .pinion 19 is keyed on the .transverseshaft 18 and driven thereby and meshes with and drives an idler gear 20 which in turn drives a spur gear 21 on a transverse f Vshaft 22 which drives said shaft. lA sprocket 23 ris fixed on the transverse shaft 22 and is .driven thereby.V The sprocket 23 meshes with and drives the continuous traction device 12 -f which is also threadediover 'an idler sprocket 24 near. the forward endV of thelmain frame It maynow be vseen that I haveprovided an independent drive foreach continuous traction device 12 dispensing with mechanical clutches and .that wheniti is desired that the apparatus; move forwardly along the mine floor yin a straight line that power is applied to the motors 14, 14, simultaneously, and that when itis desired to turn the apparatus in one ,direction oranother', power is turned olf from one or the other of vsaid continuous traction devicesinthe usual manner.

' The frearward pivotalpconnection ofthe conveyor 10 to the main frame 1 1 is adjustable so that said conveyor maybe tilted about Vitsforward pivotal axis, and comprises an in'- ternally vthreaded,member 25 pivoted tothe the conveyor y10 having Aan vadjusting screw 26 threaded therein. 'The lower portion of 26 is vsupported von a projecadj-usting screw.

'tion 27 from, the main frame 11'on a member 28' pivotally connected thereto. A collarj29 having a plurality of holes therein is'provide-dV to rotate the adjusting screw 26 to pivot the '14 to each continuous tread traction device i conveyor 10 about its forward pivotal axis.

Likewise the forward pivotal connection of the conveyor l to the main frame l1 is adjustable so that said conveyor may be tilted about its rearward pivotal axis. The forward portion of the conveyor is trunnioned on a forked supporting member w-hich is supported on the top portion of a threaded shaft 33. The threaded shaft 33 is threaded th-rough an internally threaded sleeve 34 held in a supporting member integral with thev main frame ll and is journaled in the main frame ll at its lower portion. The 'sup'- porting member 35 sur-rounds the threaded sleeve' 34 and is split at'itsv forward portion to `allow saidsupporting member tobe tightened on. said sleeve to Vholdsaid sleeve from -zrotation or to loosely engage said ysleeve to allow ,said sleeve to rotate within said supporting member. i v Means .are pro vided `to Vtighten thesupport ving member 35 on the sleeve .34 whichxherein comprise a rod 38 threaded for a portion of its length having a .head thereon `abutting, one

r side .of .the supporting member 35 Aand passing 4through said supporting member. A

ss'leeve39 abuts the opposite side of yt-he Asupporting'memb'er 35 and ahandwheel40 .abut-s the -outer end of said sleeve and. is threaded on the rod 38 so that rotation ofsaid hand wheel in one direction or the other holds the v"threaded sleeve 34 from rotation on the supporting member '35 or allows said-'threaded Vsleeve to'lrotatefi-n said supporting member.

Thethreaded shaft 33 is rotated by means lof a woringear41 feathered thereon which is driven :by means of a worm 42 on a motor shaft 43 driven from an'1otor45.-v It may lhere be Aseenthat when :the sleeve 34 is fheld stationaryfin the support 3that rotation of the motor shaft 43 will rotate the threaded shaft 33 which will move through the sleeve 34 to .raise or lower the forward portion of the conveyor 1Q pivoting said conveyor about its rearward pivotal axis and thus'providin'g a means to vadjustthe forward portion vof said "conveyor to irregular bottoms oriraiseA the forward portion of said vconveyor abovetlie Vini-ne bottom when travelling from loading place to loading place.` j Y Referring now in particu-lar tothe mecha- 'ni'sm for agitating the mined vkmaterial soit may be gathered by thebelt of the 'belt `con veyor 10, ashoe 47 is attached to the forward end of the belt conveyor 10 land projects for- -wardly and'downWclrdly therefromt'o engage the ymine bottom; 4The .shoe 47 Y is wedge near the outer ends of the shoe47 and are l operatively connected with opposite ends of a member 49 pivotally connected to the central portion of the Vshoe 47 adjacent the forward end thereof so that pivotal movement of one member 48 will cause pivotal movement of the mem-ber 49 and the .opposite member 48.V

A plurality of material agitating members herein preferably shown as lingers 50, 50, proa ject vforwardly and outwardly from the members 48, 48,` and 49V to a point adjacent the mine bottom. Connecting rods 5l, 5l, actuated by suitable crank means are provided to ingrods-l are connected to the outer ends of `the'members48,` 48, byVV means of ball and socket joints `of anordinary construction.

The connecting rod 51on one side of the apparatus isconnected toa erankpin 54 onthe end of a crank keyed to a transverse drivmove the members 48, 48, and 49 about their lpivotal axes. As herein shown the connecting shaftby-meafns ofa ball and socket joint Aofanordinafry type.. Likewise the opposite f .connecting rod 51 is connected to a crank pin 57'1by meansY of :a ball and socket joint of-an fordinarytype. The crank pin 57 is conneeted to a bevelgear 58. Thecran-k pins 54 and 'e7-are 180 degrees apart so that rotation of said crank .pins will'uniformly reciprocably -niove the membersi485l 48, and 49about their v pivotal axes to agitate thev loose materiales said members -andrfingers 5.0,` 50, are fed into 'the loose material Y'by .means of p the continuous traction tread devices 12, l2. f

The kconveyor beltof the belt conveyor 10 and-the members 48, 48and 49 are driven from the motor by means lofa suitable gear train which Ais as follows: :i i l i The worm 42 on the motor shaftr43 Vdrives la; worm gear '60 forwardlyof-'said worm on ra vertical vshaft 61. A -bevel lgear 62 is keyed on the verticafl shaft 'lbeneath the worm 42v anddrilve's -a bevel gear 63 on a transverse shaft 64. A bevel gear is on the outerV 'end of the ytransverse shaft 64 and meshes with and drives a bevel gear 66 on a splined shaft 67. The splined shaft 67 isjournaled in a member 68 which is pivoted so as to 'be'pivotally Vmovable'about theaXis of the trans-j lverseA shaft 64 'to allowthe :splined shaft 67 andbevel gear y66 to be axially movable about the bevel gear Y65 vand transverse .shaft l'64. .The sv-plined shaft 67 is slidable within? and 'drives'av sleeve 69 keyed on a shaft 70 journ .aled on'the conveyor `10 for driving said shaft. lAbevelv pinion 7l is keyed on the forward end of the shaft 70 and vdrivesthe 'bevel gear 58 on thetransverse shaft '56. A

roller V72 is iiXed'on the transverse shaft 56 for driving the CVeYOl 'belt of theb'elt con- 55 veyor lOin .a usualV manner. Y f The'memberfs 4874 48, Aand 49 are reciprocably moved4 by 'means of the cranksv andl`57 and theconnecting rods 5l', '51, in the manner hereinbefore'descriibed. Y

Yio

Figure 2 shows the apparatus .of my invention Ygathering loose coal from lthe mine face.

The conveyoris adjusted so that the shoe 47 has engagement. with the mine bottom and the fingers 5() 'are reciprocably moved byl means of the motor 45 about'the axis .of the members 48, 48, and 49, respectively. As

.these lingers are being-reciprocably moved of the belt conveyor 10, and making the loading operation one continuous operation controllable bymeans of the contmuoustracytion tread devices 12, l2.

While I have herein shownanddescribed one form in which my. invention may be embodied, it will be understood'that the ar-V rangement and construction of the various parts may be altered without departing from thesspirit or scope of the invention. .Fur-

thermore, I donot wish to be construed as limiting myself to the specific embodiment illustrated, exceptingv as it may be limited in the appended claims.

kI claim as my invention: s l. In an apparatus ofthe class described,

' a main frame supported onV afplurality of continuous tread traction devices, a conveyor extending longitudinally over said main frame and inclined towards the mine bottom, a motor on said mam frame for operating Asaid conveyor, a shoefextending .forwardlyy of said conveyor engageable withv the mine bottom, and agitating means on said shoeV projecting forwardly therefrom comprising a plurality'of members pivoted thereon and operatively lconnected together so thatI pivotal movement of one of said members will causespivotal` movementV of another of said members, a plurality of material agitating members projecting forwardly and outwardly `from said pivotally. mounted members, and means driven by said motor foroperating said conveyor for reciprocably moving said materialV agitating membersl about the pivotal axis of said aforementioned members.

2.V In an apparatus of the class described,

a main frame supported on a plurality of contmuous tread devices, a conveyor extending .longitudinally f over,r said `main frame and inclined toward the mine bottom, a motorr on said main frame for operating said conveyor,

a shoe extending forwardly of said conveyor material agitating members projecting forwardly and outwardly from said pivotally lmounted members,andcrank operated means 'said members. r i

for simultaneously reciprocably moving said material agitating members about the pivotal axis of said pivotallyv mounted members.

3. In an apparatus of the. class described,r aV main frame supported on a plurality ofj vcontinuous tread devices, a conveyor extend-- Vofvone of said members rwill cause pivotalv movement 0f another of vsaid members, a p-lu-r rality of material agitating members p`roject ing forwardly and outwardly` from said piv- -otally mounted members, a connecting rod onCi5 eachouter4 end ofsaid shoe .pivotally con# nectible with the outer end of a'portion ofsaid members, and crank means forl actuating said connecting rodsv for simultaneously reciprocablymoving said members and said materialco agitating members about the pivotal axis of 4. AIn an apparatus of the class described, a main frame supported'on a pluralityof Ycontinuous tread traction devices, aconveyor C905 extendingV longitudinally over said main frame, and pivotally connectible-therewith at the forward and rearwardend.thereof forV pivotal movement about" axes 'extending' Vtransverselyof said main frame, meansfor @foo pivotingsaid vconveyor about either said forward or rearward axis, a'motor on said main frame ,for operating said conveyor, meansvdriven by said motor-for pivoting said conveyor about said rearward axis, ag shoe extending forwardly ofsaid conveyor engageable with 4the mineb0ttom,andA agitating means. on sai.d.,shoe projectingfor-V wardly therefrom comprising a pluralityof members pivotedv thereon and operatively @lo connected together so that pivotal movement of one of said-,members will cause pivot-al movement-of another of said members,ta plurality of material agitatingmembersprojectingforwardly and outwardly from said @E15 pivotally mounted members, and means ydriven by said motor yfor operating said `conveyor' for reciprocably movingfsaid material agitating members about the 'pivotal Y? axis of said aforementioned members. Q20

5. In an apparatus of the class described, a main frame, a plurality-of continuous tread devices for supportingand .transportingv said main frame, an independent motor drive for each of said continuous'tread; devices, Vcon-V -veyor extending llongitudinally over said main frame and inclined towardsv the -mine bottom, a motor for operating said conveyor,

and fagitating means fon the' forward y end.` of

`.said conveyor-comprising aplurality of members pvoted thereon having a plurality of members about thepivotal axis'of said mem-` of for pivotal movement about an axis cxmaterial agitating members Vprojecting outwardly therefrom, and means driven from said last mentioned motorfor reciprocably` moving said members and material agitating bers. Y

6. In an apparatus of the class described, a main frame, a plurality of continuous tread devices for supporting and transporting said main frame, an independent motor drive for eachof said continuous tread devices, a conveyor extending longitudinallyr over said main frame, and pivotally connectible therewith at the forward and rearward ends theretending transversely of said main fra-ine, a motor on said main frame for operating said conveyor, means driven by said motor for pivoting said conveyorlabout said rearward axis, and agitating means on the. forward end of said conveyor comprising a plurality of members pivotally mounted thereon having a plurality of material agitating members projecting Voutwardly therefrom, and means driven from said last mentioned motor for reciprocably moving said members and materialagitating members about the pivotal v clined plane.

axis of said members.

7. In a loading machin-e, a main frame having a conveyorV thereonl and agitating means forwardly of said conveyor comprising a `plurality of fingers reciprocably movable about axes perpendicular tol an inclined-plane.

8. In a loading machine, a main frame having a conveyor thereon and agitating means forwardly of said conveyor comprising a plurality of interconnected lingers pivotally movable about axes perpendicular to an in- 9. In a loading machine, a main framey having a conveyor thereon, an inclined shoe projecting forwardly of said conveyor and engageablewith the mine bottom, and vagitating means forwardly of said conveyor comprising a plurality of fingers lreciprocably `movable about axes substantially perpendicular to the plane of said inclined shoe. Y

10. In a loading` machine, a main frame Ihaving a conveyor thereon, an inclined shoe projecting forwardly of said conveyor and Aengageablevwith the mine-bottom, and agitat- -ing means vforwardly of said .conveyorcomprising a plurality` of interconnected material agitating members pivotally movable about axes substantially perpendicular to the plane of saidA inclined shoe. I

11,v In a` loading machine, a main frame having a conveyortliereon, an-'inclined shoe projecting" forwardlyrof said conveyor and engageable with-the mine'bottom,and agitating means rforwardly of said conveyor comprising a plurality of forwardly extending yintercon,neet-cd material ,agit-ating Vmembers extending ,along thefor-.ward end' of said shoe and beyond the sides thereof pivotally movable aboutlaxes substantially` perpendicular to the plane :of said inclined shoe.

12. In a loading machine, a main frame havinga conveyor thereon, an inclined shoe `projecting forwardly of said conveyor and .engageable with the mine bottom, and agitatprising. a plurality of interconnected material agitating members extending forwardly adjacent the mine bottom'along theforward end of said-,shoe and beyond the sides thereof reciprocably pivotally movable about axes Vsubstantially perpendicularto the plane of said inclined shoe.

havinga conveyor thereon, ashoe adapted to engage ,thenmine bottom `proj ecting forwardly of said conveyor, and agitating means disposed forvardly of said conveyor comprising a pluralityof fingers recip'rocablyinovable 4about axes substantial-ly perpendicular to the plane of ysaid shoe. Y

14. In a loading machine, a .main frame having a conveyor thereon, la shoe adapted to engagev the mine bottom projecting forwardly of said conveyor,fand agitatingvmeans disposed forwardlyofsaid conveyor comprising a pluralityof'interconnecte'd material agitating members pivotally movable about,... axes substantially perpendicular tothe plane .of sai-d shoe. y

.715. .In a loading machine, la main frame having a conveyor thereon, a shoe adaptedv to engage the mine bottom projecting forwardly of' saidxcoiiveyor, and agitating means dis- 1 1 f' l' i Vposed foi waidly or said conveyor comprising a .plurality of forwardly. extending interconnected material agitating members pivotally movableabout axes substantially perpendicular tothe plane of said shoe extending along ,the forward end of said shoe` and beyond the n ing meansforwvard'ly of said conveyor coinso 13. In a loading. machine, a main frame 

